Mexico weekly ledger., 1887-05-12
,ot. What is claimed IL that those

OF Silicon and Alumina. Alumina il,
the most abundant Of the ear,hs. and
its source of supply has been and is
granite. There are soft GRANTEES in
the District of Columbia, from which
it can he readily obtained. Silicon
is the essential constituent of flint,
and can be obtained from potassium.
1t is employed as a polish for metals,
as a non-conductor for safes and re-
~frigeralors, and in the manufacture
of glass, enamels and pottery. The
best fire clay Is that which il ireest
of lime, magnesia aud oxide OF iron,
as all these make compounds with
Silica that are more easily melted
than Silicate Of .alumina. Pure clay
also becomes fusible when mixed with
alkaline earths, such as Salt River
drains. Ksolin is rather more crum-
bly, than other clays, but does not
form as stiff a paste with water OH
account of the free ~silicate it con-
tains, and adheres hut slightly to the
tongue.
If a piece of clay is examined it
will be seen that it consists of ex-
ceedlngly fine particles. and that
when dry it a be easily crushed to
fine powder, which, if moistened, will
adhere and become plastic. When
mixed with a large quantity of water
it will he SO taken up and separated
from what is mixed, but not chemic-
ally combined with it, as TO appear
wholly dissolved. The water hold
ing it can be poured into an Other
vessel and in a short time the CLAW
will separate from the water also, and
form a soft, tenacious paste at the
bottom of it, so non-elastic as to re-
ceive and retain the slightest impress
sion made upon it. This minute di-
vision of the particles of clay, its sep
aration from foreign matter, and it's
cohesion and non elasticity are its
most valuable qualities.
The lowest part of the strata of
clay at Vandalia appears to the wri-
ter to be a s~iiicate that when reduced
to powder will not have sufficient
alumina in its composition to form a
tenacious paste, and yet will be ad-
mirable as composite for the more
aluminous clay above it in the a n
facture Of ware. 1t is difficult to
crush it properly for such purpose
with a chaser in a wet pan. Most
probably it ought to be roasted and
calcined before it is mixed with mos.
tened portions of clay to form paste.
The a made from such a paste
would be smooth, and with proper
glazes would be Of high and bril-
liant finish. But such a paste would
scarcely answer for fire brick and til
ing, both of which ought not to be
CLASSY and compact, but open and
porous.
From what has been said it will be
evident there has yet been no expert
ence in the management of the clays
of Audrain to warrant reliable con-
illusions as to the uses it, is possible
to put them. That can be found out
only by persistent and skilful expert
ment, and on that account the enter
prise of our Vandalia neighbors is all
the more praiseworthy. They are the,
pioneers of an industry likely to be-
come both extensive and remunera.
tive. The world honors the pioneer
in art, and no subsequent limitation
Of or even improvement on him can
deprive him of that honor.
New Suits Flied.
G.. A. Lewis, vs.. Napoleon Hun
ter, quiet title.
J. H. Stowe, VS.. F. J.. Stowe, ct
al, partition.
Il. NJ. Porter VS.. NJ. G. Brown and
f. c. Clark, venue from Randolph.
Moline Pow Co., vs.. Reudy &
Feutz.
C. w. Erbs vs.. Nancy Mariah
Erbs, divorce.
r. L. Willis VS.. w. Fl. Potts. note.
Henry Shock vs.. Jas. Ellis, from j.
P. court.
G.. w. WooIwine ct al, VS.. Jno.
Bick, damages.
A. B. Bowman vs. Luckett & Travis,
acct.
R. M. Kemp VS.. City of Mexico
damages.
st. Louis Oil Co., VS.. C. H. Green,
ct al acct.
A. G.. Black VS.. w. w. johnson,
note.
VIM. Holt VS.. Fanny Holt, divorce.
Wade Chick vs.. VIM. Congor,
damages.
Alex Crawford VS.. 81. Ahrens,
ejectment.
Blanche G.. Hamilton vs.. NJ. r.
Locke, ct al, damages.
Chas. L. West VS.. Ada Seeley, ct
al, partition.
1,hos. Yates vs.. Jno. H. Field,
damages.
FIeety Palmer VS.. Joshua F. Pal
mer, ct al, contract.
j. W. Shines VS.. Lucy Shines, di-
vorce.
Read Ferris "funny' advertise
ment.
Th,I C-.o, ,pili onop a sal00n in